Why Mesothelioma Cases Occur in San Mateo
San Mateo's largest source of occupational asbestos exposure was Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E), whose extensive transmission, distribution, and gas operations throughout San Mateo County employed thousands of workers. PG&E substations, switching stations, gas compressor stations, and service centers throughout the county were built with asbestos-containing insulation, fireproofing, and equipment. Linemen, pipefitters, electricians, and mechanics who maintained PG&E infrastructure were exposed to asbestos throughout their careers.
San Mateo's position as a major Peninsula business and commercial center generated enormous construction activity from the 1940s through the 1970s. Downtown San Mateo's commercial buildings, the Hillsdale Shopping Center area, hotels, office buildings, and the expansive residential developments of that era were all built using asbestos-containing materials as a matter of standard construction practice. The city's Caltrain corridor and rail infrastructure also contained asbestos in train cars, platforms, and maintenance facilities.
The 20-to-50-Year Latency Period
Mesothelioma has a latency period of 20 to 50 years. A worker exposed to asbestos at San Mateo facilities in the 1970s may only receive a mesothelioma diagnosis in 2025 or later. This is why San Mateo continues to produce new mesothelioma cases decades after asbestos use was restricted.
The San Mateo County Courthouse, City Hall, and other civic buildings constructed in the mid-twentieth century incorporated asbestos insulation, fireproofing, and building materials throughout their structures. Public works employees who maintained these buildings — including plumbers, electricians, and HVAC workers — faced repeated asbestos disturbance during routine maintenance and repair work.
Skilled tradespeople who built San Mateo's neighborhoods and commercial districts during the postwar construction boom handled asbestos-containing materials throughout their working lives. Insulators, pipefitters, plumbers, sheet metal workers, and tile setters worked with asbestos products that were standard in their trades from the 1940s into the late 1970s.
San Mateo's Asbestos Legacy by the Numbers
PG&E serves millions of customers throughout California through infrastructure containing decades-old asbestos materials. San Mateo's commercial building stock was largely constructed during peak asbestos use years. California allows only 2 years from diagnosis to file a mesothelioma claim — one of the shortest deadlines in the nation. Documenting your asbestos exposure history is a critical first step.
